On the eve of Paris Haute Couture Week, Balmain presented a show like no other. Titled ‘Balmain Sur Seine’, the presentation featured pieces from the French fashion house’s archives, aptly showcased on a barge in the heart of Paris. Accompanied by the singer Yseult and the choreographer Jean-Charles Jousni, creative director Olivier Rousteing evoked a multisensorial experience that combined fashion, art and music.

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Several Parisians witnessed the spectacle from the banks of the Siene, which was closed during the pandemic. This scenic fashion show was live-streamed exclusively on Balmain’s official social media platform, TikTok. The show was a celebration of rediscovery, values and the country’s resilience in the face of the pandemic. “Paris, we are stronger than ever together. It was very important to make this accessible to all,” read the caption of a post on the brand’s Instagram account.

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Artistic director Andrew Makadsi added that the show was designed as a celebration of the better days to come. With France’s lockdown to tackle COVID-19 having ended, Andrew and Oliver envisioned the show as a symbol of freedom, and the stellar performance by a black dance was included as an expression of solidarity with the Black Lives Movement.

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Olivier joined Balmain in 2011, becoming the first-ever black creative director to helm a major luxury house. “Today’s dance draws inspiration from this moment and our shared longing for actual progress,” he said in a statement, referring to his cast of performers who were dominantly black.

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We’re floating on air after viewing the show. Watch it now.

Image Courtesy of @balmain